Home Remedies for Fungal Infections

Fungi are microorganisms that are present everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. In fact, there are more than 50,000 different species of fungi in the environment.

There are many fungi that can live on your skin for years without causing any problem. However, at times certain factors can cause fungi to overgrow or change, and this can lead to a fungal infection.

Fungal infections are usually categorized by the type of fungi causing the problem, the affected body part and the severity of the infection. These infections can occur on the surface of your skin, within a skin fold or on any other area that is warm and humid and cause intense itching.

Some common types of fungal infections are athlete’s foot, jock itch, ringworm that can affect any part of the skin as well as scalp, onychomycosis that affects the nails and nail beds, and candidiasis that can infect the mouth, vagina, and urinary tract. The severity of a fungal infection may vary from person to person.

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Several factors can contribute to acquiring a fungal infection including a side effect of antibiotics, a weakened immune system, diabetes, poor hygiene, living in a warm environment, poor blood circulation, a skin injury and coming in contact with someone who is infected.

Anybody can get a fungal infection, and in today’s active lifestyle, they are fairly common. Some simple herbal remedies can destroy the fungi causing the infection as well as reduce the intensity of the symptoms.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a common treatment for any kind of fungal infection. Due to the presence of antimicrobial properties, apple cider vinegar helps kill the fungus causing the infection. Plus, its mild acidic nature helps prevent the infection from spreading and promotes speedy recovery.

Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in one cup of warm water and drink it twice daily.

Another option is to dilute apple cider vinegar with an equal amount of water, and then apply it externally on the affected skin. Leave it on for 30 minutes. You can even soak the infected skin area in this solution for 30 minutes. When done, pat dry the area thoroughly with a towel or dryer.

You can use any of these remedies until you get rid of the infection.

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2. Plain Yogurt

For treating a fungal infection, you can use plain, unsweetened yogurt with live, active cultures. The probiotics present in plain yogurt can keep the growth of fungi in check by producing lactic acid.

Soak cotton in plain yogurt and apply it on the infected area. Leave it on for 30 minutes, and then rinse it off with warm water and pat dry. Follow this remedy two times a day until the infection clears.

In case of vaginal infection, dip a tampon in yogurt and insert it in the vagina for two hours. Do this twice a day.

Also, make plain yogurt a part of your daily diet. Eat two to three cups of plain yogurt daily until the infection is gone completely.

3. Garlic

Crush two garlic cloves and add a few drops of olive oil to make a paste. Apply the paste on the affected areas and leave it on for 30 minutes. Then wash the area with lukewarm water and pat dry the skin thoroughly. Follow this treatment twice daily until you get rid of the infection.

To treat a fungal infection in the vagina, wrap one garlic clove in gauze and put it in the vagina for not more than 30 minutes. Use this treatment once daily for several days.

You can also add a few garlic cloves to your food to speed up the healing process of any fungal infection. You can even take garlic supplements, but only after consulting your doctor.

4. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil has natural antifungal compounds that help kill the fungi that cause fungal infections. Plus, its antiseptic qualities inhibit the spread of the infection to other body parts.

Mix together equal amounts of pure tea tree oil and olive oil or sweet almond oil. Apply this solution on the affected skin area several times a day.

You can also prepare a mixture with three parts of tea tree oil and one part of aloe vera gel. Rub the mixture on the infected area twice daily.

For a vaginal infection, place a few drops of tea tree oil on a tampon and insert it into your vagina for two to three hours. Repeat twice daily.

All these remedies must be followed for several weeks.

Note: Pregnant women should not use tea tree oil remedies.

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5. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil works as an effective remedy for any type of fungal infection due to the presence of medium-chain fatty acids. These fatty acids work as natural fungicides to kill the fungi responsible for the infection.

Gently rub extra-virgin coconut oil on the affected area and allow it to dry on its own. Repeat two or three times daily until the infection clears up.

Mix equal amounts of coconut oil and cinnamon oil and apply it on the affected area. Follow this remedy twice daily to control the growth of the infection.

For a vaginal infection, soak a tampon in organic coconut oil and insert it in the vagina. Leave it in for two hours. After removing the tampon, rinse the area thoroughly with lukewarm water. Repeat the process once daily until the infection is gone.

6. Tea

The tannins in tea can help kill the fungi responsible for fungal infections. Plus, tea has antibiotic and astringent properties that help get rid of the symptoms of a fungal infection like the burning sensation, swelling and skin irritation.

Soak a few tea bags in warm water for 10 minutes. Remove them from the water, and put them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Apply the cold tea bags on the affected area. Repeat this remedy three times daily until the infection clears up completely.

For toenail fungus or athlete’s foot, steep five black tea bags in four cups of boiling water for five minutes. Allow the water to cool and then soak the affected foot in it for 30 minutes. Repeat twice daily for five to six weeks.

7. Oregano Oil

Mix equal amounts of oregano oil and extra-virgin olive oil. Apply this mixture on the affected area and leave it on for a few hours.

Alternatively, you can add three drops of oregano oil to a glass of water and drink it twice daily.

You can also take one or two capsules of oregano oil twice a day after eating your meals.

Follow any of these treatments regularly until you get the desired result.

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Note: Always use the type of oregano oil that does not contain alcohol.

8. Olive Leaf

Olive leaf contains antifungal as well as antimicrobial properties that help kill fungi. Plus, it makes the immune system strong, which helps in faster recovery.

Grind a few olive leaves to make a paste. Apply it directly on the affected area. Leave it on for 30 minutes, rinse it off with warm water and pat dry the skin thoroughly. Follow this remedy once or twice daily until the infection is gone.

You can also drink two to three cups of olive leaf tea daily for faster recovery. To make the tea, steep one or two teaspoons of crushed and dried olive leaves in a cup of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain and enjoy your tea.

9. Turmeric

Turmeric is a well-known natural antiseptic, antibiotic and antifungal agent. Plus, its healing properties facilitate quick recovery and prevent the infection from reoccurring.

Apply the juice of raw turmeric root on the affected skin area. Leave it on for two to three hours, and then rinse off with lukewarm water. Follow this remedy twice daily until the infection clears.

Boil one cup of milk along with one teaspoon of turmeric. Add a little honey and drink it while it is still warm. Do this daily to boost your immune system and prevent any kind of infection.

I’m currently suffering from athletes foot and it has been two weeks now….How i wish i had read about this early as my condition has worsened and turned my skin into something else…
Thanks for information

Do NOT use tea tree oil on your pets. I almost killed my dog by using this on her skin. within a half hour she was shivering and projectile vomit…an hour later the diarrhea started. Like I said it almost killed her. Thank goodness for a good vet and some common sense.

It may be die off symptoms as it killed pathogens etc in the dogs body as it may have been absorbed and killed stuff so it doesn’t mean it’s going to die . Just symptoms of pathogens dying in body.shivering is normal part of die off symptoms but I wouldn’t take risk either of hurting our gorgeous pet dogs.thanks for info,it’s strange as I have used tea tree shampoo on my dog many times to kill and treat fleas and parasites etc and it never hurt my dog but maybe it wasn’t that strong like pure tea tree oil is bit different than shampoo with tea tree

Salt is highly effective for curing vaginal yeast infections. Run a hot bath, salt until it’s slightly saltier than the ocean. Then soak until the water cools. Usually cures after 3 days of repeating once daily.

But yeast infections aren’t fungal infections, and treating a fungal yeast infection as a bacterial vaginal yeast infection only worsens the fungal infection. While you may have given a good tip for a bacterial yeast infection, it’s the antithesis of the treatment needed for said fungal condition, and it should be noted as such.

I meant they aren’t *always necessarily * fungal yeast infections. They can be bacterial and that’s the important part when treating any vaginal infection. This string is relative to fungal infections, and I thought it should be mentioned that there is an important difference in the treatment of both.

They are not both yeast. Only one is. You would either have a Bacterial Infection(not fungal) or a Yeast Infection(fungal), or God help you, both at the same time. Yes, treating a Bacterial Infection as a Yeast (fungal) Infection can truly make it much worse. They do have to be treated differently.

I have had good results with plain old kerosene. Just take a clean cloth, soak it in the kerosene and wipe it on the infected area. It kills the fungus right away and then over the next few days or weeks the dead skin will start coming off, usually with itching, and new skin will take its place. You can read about the healing effects of kerosene on the internet and it even mentions its use in treating cancer.

Heaps of probiotics,like I mean tonnes!buy as many strains as you can. Culture them on your own if you can’t afford to buy heaps. You grow them but makingbyogurt out of them or you can culture coconut milk and verges and all sorts of things. Use the whey and even the yogurt to put on fungal infections and even kills bacterial and virus infections too. Take internally too, it tastes gross but worth it. Kills fungus real good and if u hate taste of whey just use that topically and then eat the yogurt or kefir etc. you can give to dogs too as they love it and it helps them a lot as my dog caught an infection and it’s helping her stop sneezing and feel better.

I had the infections for over a year and it’s almost fully healed now as i am using coconut oil and tea tree oil. No matter where you have the fungal, use 3 tea spoons of coconut oil + 20 drops of tea tree oil , rub on the affected area and see results 🙂 That is really the only thing that worked, all creams that i tried made it worse…

Hello.I was wondering if any of you would like to try this homemade anti-fungal spray this easy to make: 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar and aloe vera gel ,1 tbsp of olive oil,10 drops of lavender pure essential oil and chamomile oil,2 drops of peppermint pure essential oil and 5 ml of witch hazel and add this to a 120 ml spray bottle and add this to the fridge after shaking it well and then use it to 2-3 times a day .Please inform me and tell me if it worked and how good it was.I will be needing this before January 10,2017.Thank you

I also suffered from fungal infection use cotton dipped in the petrol-and wash or apply on the skin then u fill very irritating but it is necessary for cure apply twice a day a definitely u getting best results bcz I used it

I had a ugly toenail fungus on more than half of my large toe for over a year. I knew about the apple cider vinegar but I cold not soak it always. So I took a half of a cotton ball soaked with 50/50 vinegar and water and put it on the nail and I held it in place with the finger tip of a surgical glove. I think for a larger foot you could use rubber gloves. I left it on sometimes for an hour or more if I forgot. Sometimes I missed a day. I only did this once a day. I have been doing this since October and it is almost grown out.

I feel it is important not to stop until it is totally gone. I also dry my toe after with a cool hair dyer and I do not rinse it.

Y’all need to get L sakei and as many probiotics as possible. The more strains the better. You need to crowd the body with good strains of bacteria and they will also eat the fungi there by killing it off and I don’t know if it’s going to cure you of the fungus, depends what strain. I think it can kill candida but maybe not deadly strains. I have a deadly fungi strain and it doesn’t cure it, it keeps symptoms at bay and stops it making me deathly sick. And stops the fungal crap on my skin and stops the post nasal drip and mucus which is btw caused by a fungal infection not bacteria. Chronic sinusitis is fungal infections they have done studies and it’s most likely always a fungi/sometimes bacteria too but fungi is the thing causing that damn post nasal drip. Anyways L sakei strain helps a lot with fungal infections. It can be bought online it’s from Chris Hansen cultures used for culturing salami and it kills bad bacteria too so it’s great for health and most infections. So while ya all treating your fungal infection make sure to boost the probiotics and make sure to take heaps of strains. You can culture them and make kefir,yogurt,sour kraut and all sorts of fermented foods. You the whey topically or drink it too but when using it on skin omg it’s amazing and kills most skin infections and even warts!!it cures warts as long as you apply it all the time, I mean 10 times a day it has to be applied not just once a day. Even once a day helped keep the warts real small and Nearly invisible but they grow back when you stop so make sure you smother the watt in home made yogurt and whey and lots of strains is the key. I swear it kills warts and fungi and even bad bacteria like staph it’s amazing. I would be dead from staph if it wasn’t for my home made fermented foods and drinks.fungi can cause cancer people so please prevent it by getting rid of fungi and the good soldiers(aka probiotics)will kill it for you!

I’m gonna give that Apple cider vinegar and garlic also the coconut oil and the tea tree oil Teatree oil I read all the directions and have written them down I’ve been dealing with this for over year I believe I passed it on to my wife and my dog she sleeps by my feet it’s over taken my wife but she doesn’t seem to believe me that that’s what it is and I’m not sure how to cleanse my house of this either once I get myself taking care of any comments will help thank you God bless you

All the tips mentioned here are strictly informational. This site does not provide medical advice. Consult with your doctor or other health care provider before using any of these tips or treatments. Read more.